Corey Feldman with La Rissa Vienna and the Strange, and The Jacob Cade Project at the Buffalo Rose in Golden, CO on 6/23/17.

Corey Feldman and the Angels

I went to Corey Feldman and the Angels with low expectations. I assumed his band would play their instruments as seriously as the models in a Robert Palmer video. I thought Feldman would do his Michael Jackson imitation for a hand full of curious onlookers and it would be over in minutes.

I was wrong.  Feldman entertained a near sold out audience for over two hours. He had more costume changes than a Cher concert, more show business stories than a vaudevillian comedian, and a set list that took the audience through his lengthy career.

Corey Feldman and the Angels

After a propaganda video listing his multiple movies, television appearances, and musical albums, the scantly clad Angels appeared on stage complete with illuminated wings and halos. Corey Feldman followed wearing a Michael Jackson like black leather ensemble (except he wore both gloves). After playing a few songs from his new album Angelic 2 the Core, it was apparent that this was going to be a real show.

Throughout his career Feldman contributed music to the soundtracks to many of his movies. Playing the songs from these films provided a way to take the audience through his career (the video clips helped as well).  He also covered Beatles, Michael Jackson (one of his closest friends according to Feldman), and Little Richard songs.

Angel Margo

To prove his band (the Angels) really did play their own instruments, Feldman spotlighted them throughout the night.  His wife and keyboardist Angel Courtney Anne sang Cyndi Lauper's The Goonies 'R' Good Enough from the 1985 movie Goonies (Feldman portrayed Clark 'Mouth' Devereaux in the film).  Angel Margo played the violin to an original composition.  Twenty-one-year-old Angel Jimena Fosado impressed me the most. She played a mash up of The White Stripes, Metallica, and Nirvana guitar hooks.

Corey Feldman reappeared in a hooded outfit playing the drums while smoking a vape cigarette. The Angeles sang Stand by Me with clips from the 1986 Rob Reiner movie with the same name playing in the background (Feldman played Teddy Duchamp in the film).

The night ended with Corey Feldman on a hover board singing Go For It.  It was symbolic of his show. Sounds ridiculous, but it turned out to be surprisingly entertaining.

The Jacob Cade Project

The three-piece band The Jacob Cade Project played before the Angels landed on stage.  Jacob Cade is a singer guitar player from Parker, Colorado that just graduated from high school.  He has been playing the guitar since he was four-years-old.  He woke the crowd up with his fast paced song Green Light Go. Next was a rapid fire set of Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, and Joe Walsh covers.  Base player Jim Cade looked old enough to be Jacob's Dad ... because he is his Dad.  Jacob Cade slowed things down by playing an original song about a recent brake up.  But what really wowed the crowd was his guitar playing.  When he would play a difficult lick, Jacob would stick his tongue out and smile. He took advantage of the large crowd at the end of the night by encouraging everyone to text a number for free music.

Opening act La Rissa Vienna and the Strange played their spooky rock to the diverse Corey Feldman audience. Lead singer LaRissa Vienna sang songs written to inspire the underdogs and the outcasts while doing her Tae Bo moves she learned from her mother's Billy Blanks videos.  Bass player Aaron Mendoza and guitar player Nick Workman worked heavy metal touches into the music.  At the same time, violin player Vanity Welch (wearing a Goonies t-shirt) added to the depth of the songs with her classically trained playing.

See you at the next show.  I'll be the one riding the hover board in the Goonies t-shirt.

Shooter Jennings & Waymore's Outlaws with Radio Birds and Casey James Prestwood and the Burning Angeles in Denver, CO at the Summit Music Hall on 6/21/17

Shoot Jennings with Waymore's Outlaws

Waylon Jennings passed away more than fifteen-years ago, but the country outlaw's music lives on through his son, his backing band, and in the hearts of fans like the guy with the Waylon tattoo in front of the stage.

Waylon Jennings band named Waymore's Outlaws have been performing Waylon Jennings songs for several years. Singer Tommy Townsend took the legendary band through classics such as Luckenback TX (Back to the Basics of Love), Good Time Woman (complete with a Willie Nelson impression), and Theme Song from the Dukes of Hazard (Good Ol'Boys).  A few minutes later, they all appeared together with the headliner.

Blonde Woman of Intoxication

Shooter Jennings grew up on his father's tour bus. He started playing music from the age of five. Shooter turned down the chance to front the rock super group Velvet Revolver to pursue country. He has produced music with everyone from Marilyn Manson to Billy Ray Cyrus.

Right when Shooter joined the Waymore's Outlaws onstage, an enthusiastic fan (really drunk girl) pushed through the crowd to be front and center. She displayed her embarrassing dancing skills and obnoxious heavy metal hand gestures with everyone around her.  She repeatedly yelled, "Shooter what are your drinkin'?" Shooter Jennings finally had to mumble Jack and Coke between songs to shut her up. Another over zealous fan in the front row showed off his Waylon insignia tattoo to impress the blonde woman of intoxication. After she informed the branded man about her husband at the bar, the annoying outlaw country lover disappeared to the relief of everyone around her (except for the broken hearted guy next to the stage).

Shooter Jennings

Wearing a tattered MC5 shirt and sunglasses, Shooter Jennings played a hit filled crowd-pleasing set. Highlights were 4th of July, Living in Minor Key, and Nashville from Afar. Shooter dedicated a song to his decreased best friend and music manager Colonel Jon Hensley. Hensley was responsible for many musical careers.  He nudged Shooter towards his country roots and (my Lord and Savor) Jack White to produce rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson's latest album. The tribute song was a Danny O'Keefe cover of Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues. The melancholy lyrics state, "Your're not a kid at thirty-three/Ya play around, ya lose your wife/Ya play too long, you lose your life/I got my pills to ease the pain/Can't find a thing to ease the rain."  Tommy Townsend took over the vocals to end the show with the fitting Same Old Outlaw.

Radio Birds

Looking like they just stepped out of a tour bus from the 1970's, Radio Birds made their Denver debut that night.  The Atlanta, Georgia band described their sound as plain old rock and roll with a hairy touch. They claim the "hairy" as being a little dirty, but I think it's because of every member has a beard.  Gravely voiced lead singer Justin Keller charmed the audience with songs about southern life.  The bass player, a hippie version of Ed Sheeran, had his eyes closed to find the groove of every song. The barefoot drummer sang along to every song despite the fact he wasn't singing into a microphone.  Radio Bird ended with Long Way Down a song about being on the road.  "It's a long way down that cold dark valley/I'm tiered of living through other people's dreams/I'll make my way as soon as I see the signs that the road is coming ... so long." 

Casey James Prestwood and the Burning Angeles

The evening of music started with Casey James Prestwood and the Burning Angeles.  Wearing a rhinestone tailored original Manual Cuevas (a famous Western wear suit designer), Prestwood looked and sounded like he was singing in a Honkey Tonk in the 1940's. The old school country band played songs about waking up at 3:00 AM t, positive aspects about incarceration, and being the king of all losers. It makes sense their new album is entitled Born Too Late.

See you at the next show.  I'll be the one in the rhinestone suit asking that obnoxious woman to sit down.

Pretty Boy Floyd, One Track Mind, Da Screech, and Self Service at Herman's Hideaway in Denver, CO on 6/2/17

Pretty Boy Floyd

Rolling Stone Magazine just claimed Poison is the last hair metal band standing. It appears their writers forgot about Pretty Boy Floyd.  They have been performing high-energy metal glam shows since 1987. For the last few years, Wolfpack Productions has brought the Sunset Strip Rockers to Colorado. Changing from their usual Buffalo Rose appearances, Herman's Hideaway hosted the glam band on Friday. Back when I was the young guy at the show, I saw Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Bob Schneider, and The Beat Farmers at the Denver venue. Now it's considered to be in the middle of the Green Mile (named after all the recreational marijuana dispensaries in the area).  The announcer promoted a near by pot shop during the band introductions by stating, "You can get a free joint with purchase." It is the Mile High City after all.

Self Service

Local band Self Service (I don't think their name is about pumping gas) played first. Singer Steve Capstick led the band through Motorhead covers and original songs. There was a lot of crowd interaction that felt like a comedy show with a punk attitude.  Capstick introduced a song about rebelling against his kids sagging jeans by pulling up their pants.  Drummer Tristan Maher used a golf bag to store his drums equipment in at the end of their set. Where else would a comedy punk band drummer store his drum stands?

Da Screech

The three-piece modern rock heavy metal band Da Screech (named after a Jamaican rum popular in Newfoundland) was next. United States Air Force veteran Leon Lighting took the stage looking like the Webster Dictionary definition of a rock singer. He had long hair, tight jeans, and Conan the Barbarian muscles. He blended his vocals nicely with metal blues guitarist Jeremy Bryan.  Holding the whole operation together was Kev The Mac Attack on drums. The highlight of their set was their song Loaded 45 with killer bass fills by Lighting and impressive guitar playing by Bryan.

One Track Mind

Before the glam metal started, One Track Mind took the stage.  I know they were serious about their rock because that's when the fog machine started. Lead singer Chad Martin looked like a younger version of Ron Perlman from the Sons of Anarchy television show. He had the muscles, sleeveless spiked jean jacket, and F*CK belt buckle. Martin's intimidating presence had the women swaying back and forth during his ballads and brought fists up in the air during his Rock God wailing. Their song Going for a Ride raised the temperature up so much it forced Martin to take off his shirt.  This revealed his tattooed upper torso and his pieced nipples (a little something for the ladies).

Steve Summers

The main attraction Pretty Boy Floyd started with the title track off their 1989 debut album Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz. Wearing a black bandana and cowboy hat combo lead singer Steve Summers fired up the crowd immediately.  He encouraged everyone to sing along (especially the young lady with electric blue hair in front of the stage).  Next the band powered through Motley Crue's Toast of the Town. The infectious chorus had the audience chanting, "Hey Hey Hey." About the forth song into the set, the drums started to tumble down onto the front of the stage. It became clear that this was not part of the show. Drummer Ben Graves was having a seizure. A fire truck and ambulance arrived.  Graves was taken to a nearby hospital.  He was released from the ICU four days later.

See you at the next show.  I'll be the one sending positive thoughts to Ben Graves for a speedy recovery.

Elephant Revival, The Oh Hellos, and Mandolin Orange at Red Rocks in Morrison, CO on 5/21/17

Elephant Revival

Elephant Revival didn't put on your typical concert. The five member transcendental folk band from Nederland, Colorado pulled out all the stops for their Red Rocks Amphitheatre show. A Senator spoke, a drum circle chanted, an orchestra played, aerialists flew, and an intricate light show illuminated.

Before the music started, Senator Michael Bennet addressed the crowd complimenting Elephant Revival's environmental activism. One of their projects was their participation in Colorado Public Lands Day on May 12th.  The band worked with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers at the Eldorado Canyon State Park. Elephant Revival rewarded fans/volunteers with an intimate acoustic show. I had the privilege to take part of that event.

Bonnie Paine

The Red Rocks appearance began with an Indian drum circle complete with dancers in traditional dress (yes feathers were worn). It set the mood for the evening that was not only influenced by multiple genres of music (Celtic, bluegrass, and alternative rock), but by nature.

The band took the stage while rain poured down on the audience. Singer Bonnie Paine was dressed like a Greek Goddess in a white flowing dress. It was her birthday the day before and the crowd shouted out birthday wishes throughout the evening. The roadies dressed in matching suits and hats handed Paine a saw. She played it while singing the haunting Close As Can Be.

Strings and horns joined the band forming the Mayflower Orchestra. They accompanied the band for a large portion of the night making the sound dynamic and powerful. An amazing light show wowed the crowd during their version of Pink Floyd's Have a Cigar.

Aerialists - All Photos by the Rock and Roll Princess

Towards the end of the night a troupe of aerialists were hoisted above the stage.  They performed a Cirque du Soleil like air ballet. Bonnie Paine described their movements like butterflies creating storms.

After all the flowing dresses and floating women, vocalist Daniel Rodriguez sang the fitting Grace of a Woman. The show ended with Rodriguez leading the crowd in a howl-a-long to Sing to the Moon. "Go and sing to the mountain/Go and sing to the moon" (the crowd howls here) "Go and sing to just about everything/Cause everything is you."

The Oh Hellos

The Oh Hellos were second on the bill. I was expecting a mellow brother and sister folk duo.  But a large energetic band with two drummers appeared shattering my preconceived notions.  The high-energy fueled set was slowed down by technical problems.  But lead singer Tyler Heath made it humorous by asking the crowd if anybody had a tiny screwdriver to fix his guitar.  His sister Maggie Heath's beautiful voice blended with his effortlessly for their hit Hello My Old Heart. Regan Smith channeled his inner Pete Townshend while he smashed his banjo at the end of the performance.

Orange Mandolin

Starting the night of music was Mandolin Orange. There was a mandolin, but it wasn't orange.  Despite the false advertising, the North Carolina duo won over the crowd with their self described lyrical country grassy folk music. Their song Wildfire was a powerful Civil War themed song that addressed how hate never fades away. Andrew Marlin introduced Heart of Gold as a love song performed sadly because they like juxtaposition. Emily Frantz thanked the strong winds for making her hair look good (who needs a wind machine when you have the actual wind).  Marlin thanked the sun for being the world's biggest spotlight. There are definite advantages of being the opening act.


See you at the next show.  I'll be the one leading the howl-a-long.

John Paul White and Covenhoven at the Bluebird in Denver, CO on 05-10-17

John Paul White

John Paul White announced to the crowd, "I didn't come here to cheer you up." Referring to his melancholy songs such as I'll Get Even, Hope I Die, and Hate the Way You Love Me. They are somber, but with pleasing melodies and haunting images. I first saw John Paul White back in 2012 as one half of the duo The Civil Wars. A very pregnant Joy Williams was dancing around the stage while singing incredible harmonies with White. Now without Joy (see what I did there), John Paul White is back as a solo artist after an extensive time away from the spotlight.

Making up for a cancelled show in January due to a freak snowstorm in the Pacific Northwest, John Paul White mostly played material from his solo album 2016's Beulah (biblical word meaning a place of peace and isolation from strife). He explained to the crowd he was perfectly happy not making music and being with his family. But songs started to pour out of him demanding to be heard.

John Paul White
All Photos by the Rock and Roll Princess

The performance started with John Paul White walking on stage when the crowd's cheering suddenly stopped. Before singing a note, White said, "it got creepy for a second." His a cappella version of I Remember You (the 1941 Johnny Mercer classic not the 1989 Skid Row power ballad) set the mood for the night of beautifully dark music. Next he picked up an acoustic guitar for Black Leaf where his signature finger picking reminded everyone of The Civil Wars distinct sound. Most of the members of the Florence, Alabama band Belle Adair acted as John Paul White's backing band for the rest of the night. They added ambient dreamy southern depth while White poured his soul out through his heavyhearted voice.

John Paul White

A few songs not on the current album were performed. Simple Song about the death of his grandfather from his grandmother's viewpoint declaring, "Done my mourn' in your arms/I ain't gonna lose sleep when your safe from harm." Remember White warned the crowd he wasn't there to cheer them up. He sang a few songs from his first solo album 1998's The Long Goodbye that was not released until recently due to brutal record industry politics. This Life had the audience in tears with the lyrics, "'Cause this life is all that I've got/All that I am, all that I'm not/And it's worth all I go through/'Cause this life came with you."  He closed the show with The Electric Light Orchestra's Can't Get It Out of My Head.  Singing, "Now my whole world is gone for dead/'Cause I can't get it out of my head."  Reminding us John Paul White isn't here to cheer you up, but his music might just fill your heart.

Covenhoven

The Denver band Covenhoven was the opener. I dined with them before the show. Okay. I sat near them while they ate pizza at the Denver Biscuit Company. Joel Van Horne plays music under the moniker Covenhoven named after a cabin his grandfather built in Wyoming. It's symbolically similar to White's Beulah album title. The symphonic folk music was aided by four enthusiastic musicians especially the bass player with his intense facial expressions. There were a number of Bear Creek High School students in attendance screaming their love for Van Horne. It had something to due with their recent school river trip with him. It was fitting because the majority of the songs themes seem to be rooted in nature.  

See you at the next show. I'll be the one that can cheer you up. I know lots of jokes.

Take Note Colorado at 1st Bank Center, Broomfield, CO on 5/4/17

Almost every notable Colorado musician you could think of joined Governor Hickenlooper for a benefit concert on Star Wars Day (May the 4th be with you). The goal of the charity is to give any child from kindergarten to 12th grade access to a musical instrument and knowledge how to play it.

Crested Butte's own Bill Nershi from The String Cheese Incident with his wife Jillian Nershi started the evening of Colorado music. His SCI song Colorado Bluebird Sky was about living ... wait for it... mile high.  They introduced Tracksuit Wedding fronted by Libby Anschutz a co-founder of the Take Note Colorado charity. Her father, Phil Anschutz, is Colorado's best-known entrepreneur (the A in AEG).  Sadly, no tracksuits were worn or weddings were performed, but their mixture of funk and blues fired up the crowd.  

KBCO's own Bret Saunder's came out in a Chewbacca Mask (remember it's Star Wars Day) to introduce Columbine High School's own Todd Park Mohr from Big Head Todd and the Monsters. In the early 90's, I followed his band around so often they started to recognize me in the audience. Luckily no restraining orders were filed. He was joined by Jeremy Lawton BHTM's keyboardist and slide guitarist. They played blues versions of Rolling and Tumbling (one of the first blues song's ever recorded), Woody Guthrie's This Land is Your land (their version is actually not cheesy), and a new BHTM song New Word Arisin' that matched the other material perfectly.

Isacc Slade

Next Boulder's own Isaac Slade, the front man of The Fray, took the stage. Governor Hickenlooper convinced Slade to co-chair the Take Note charity one drunken night (that's how it was described by Slade). He performed The Fray's first hit Over My Head (Cable Car) on the piano. Next was How to Save a Life. The song was fitting because it was inspired by his time working at a camp for troubled teens. Next was his version of Kanye West's Heartless illuminated by the audience's cell phones. Boulder's Fairview High School Choir backed him at end of his set. And that was just the warm up. 

The Fray - Photo by the Rock and Roll Princess

Colorado Springs own OneRepublic took the stage to Loves Runs Out. They really put on a show with their full band and stunning lighting display. Lead singer Ryan Tedder jumped off a multi color light piano and took the band through a hit filled set including Stop and Stare, Secrets, and No Apologies (their biggest hit). Tedder introduced the song by joking, "if you don't know this next song, welcome back from North Korea." During Counting Stars, Tedder ran through the audience with the help of three big bodyguards. The audience went crazy and someone threw him their popcorn (not their underwear, it was a family event after all). OneRepublic ended with I Lived with the lyrics, "Hope when the crowd screams out/It's screaming your name/Hope if everybody runs/You choose to stay." 

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

Denver's Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats closed the show with their soul inspired powerhouse sound. Rateliff not only sang with incredible power, he danced throughout the night channeling James Brown. He dedicated a duck walk to the late Father of Rock and Roll Chuck Berry to the jubilated crowd.  His horn section transformed his solo song Boil and Fight into a Night Sweats standard. The horn section put down their brass and played shakers for the song .... wait for it .... Shake. Two high school horn players joined The Night Sweats for a couple of songs making their rock and roll dreams come true. The band ended with S.O.B. encouraging the crowd to sing-a-long. The drunken crowd was doing choreographed dance moves to the chorus of My Heart was breaking/Hands were shaking/Bugs crawling all over me.

See you at the next show. I'll be the one bragging about my tambourine solo featured in my junior high school band concert. 

If you would like to support the worthy cause, please follow the directions below:

of Montreal and Christina Schneider's Jepto Solutions at The Bluebird Theater on April 20, 2017 in Denver, CO

of Montreal's Kevin Barnes

Barely making it across the busy street of Colfax, a drag queen stumbles towards the Bluebird Theater in high heels. She joins a line of girls in shorts and rainbow colors leggings smoking cigarettes. I stood next to them waiting for the doors to open overhearing their theory of the social benefits of smoking. Through the nicotine haze, I recognized other of Montreal fans that I see every time the psychedelic show comes to the Mile High City.  In front of the line, a girl in a micro silver skirt that was so enamored with the band's last performance she flew to of Montreal's hometown of Athens, Georgia for their Halloween show.  A video game clerk brought his elderly parents to the show for their third time. The three friends that always dress in theme for every show (once in kimonos, next in drag, and this time in matching 420 inspired tie-dye). You might think the crowd sounds more interesting than the performance. But the music starts, and you attention goes right to the leader of the freak show Kevin Barnes.

of Montreal - All Photos by the Rock and Roll Princess

Entering the stage in a blonde wig and red crop-top skirt ensemble, Kevin Barnes sang the verse, "Am I on the verge of a really big breakthrough or just another meltdown?" from the song Gratuitous Abysses from last year's album release Innocence Reaches.  Long time keyboardist Jojo Gladwell dressed in a Togo and guitarist Bennett Lewis in western wear held the music together as chaos ruled in front of the stage.  The back screen elevated the performance by displaying psychedelic images through the set. But that's not where the visual stimulation stopped. Masked characters made appearances throughout the show.

Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It)

Transforming into a long flowing white gown with moving images eliminating him, Barnes did his version of Marlene Dietrich's Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It). Two masked females frolicked around him with flowing ribbons making the 1930's song strangely erotic. Opening act Christina Schneider was identified as one of the dancers with a hole in her sock. I guess the high concept art show didn't have much of a budget for stockings.

of Montreal with masked theatrics

During Let's Relate a masked dominatrix came out with a whip. Kevin Barnes and her "related" in the middle of the keyboard solo knocking out some of the instruments.  During the song ID Engager, a wrestler wearing an American Flag and another wrestler draped in the Russian Flag started to flight. But another masked wrestler in a rainbow flag brought them together to kiss. Maybe Kevin Barnes can assist in our strained foreign affairs with similar results.  

of Montreal

Bassem Sabry, named after the deceased Egyptian Revolution journalist, was the most powerful song of the night. Backed by images of this year's Women's March, Barnes sang, "People disappear on the wrong side of this revolution/When they'll return, all their childhood memories are dead."  Since the lyrics are sung with such a happy melody, it became extremely haunting.  At the end of the chorus, Kevin Barnes declared, "Every leader is a cellophane punk/If you hear me say yeah!" Of course, the crowd repeated "Yeah" again and again with delight. Not really sure if the deep lyrics reached the crowd celebrating 420 from the guy in a dress.  But it was a powerful moment.

Christina Schneider's Jepto Solutions

Opening band Christina Schneider's Jepto Solutions can be described as beat poetry over deconstructed guitar chords backed by an improvisational guitarist and drummer. Christian Schneider appeared drained with dark circles underneath her eyes looking like a grown up hippie version of Wednesday Adams.  The cause could be related to bassist Zach Phillips leaving the band one day before their Denver debut leaving the band without a key element to their sound.

I look forward to a reunion with the spontaneous traveling girl, the video game clerk with his parents, and the matching costume wearing trio the next time of Montreal comes to town with their psychedelic performance art theatrics.

See you at the next show.  I'll be the one wondering what a cellophane punk is.